Vehicle-brake.



No. 704,452. Patented luly 8, |902.

C. B. FAIRCHILD.-

VEHICLE BRAKE.

(Application med sept. 1e, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 704,452. Patented July 8, |902.

C. B. FARCHILD.

VEHICLE BRAKE.

(Application med sept. le, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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@gg/@ '/26 Ma- No. 704,452. Patented luly a, |902.

c. s. FAmcHlLu.

VEHICLE BRAKE.

(Application med sept. 1'6, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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NiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. FAIRCH-ILD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VIEHICLEfBYRAKfE.

SPECIFICATION forming pare of Letters Patent No. 704,452, dated .muy s, 1902.l Applicationled September 16, 1901. Serial No.75i467. (No model.)

To all L11/"1,0711, it may conceive:

Be it known that I, CHARLES BFAIRCHILD, a citizen of the'United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a Vehicle-Brake, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to brakes, and relates particularly to what may be termed pavement-brakes of the general type heretofore patented to me by Letters Patent of the United States No, 569,150, dated October 6, 1896.

Among the objects of my present invention are to simplify the construction of brakes of this type, thus reducing rtheir cost, to provide improved and simpliiied means for supporting and operating said brakes, to'provide means to insure the intended operation of the brake, and generally to provide a brake of this type which will be relatively simple, cheap, and efiicient.

A brake embodying my present invention consists of the various features, combinations of features, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings a brake of my invention is fully illustrated.

Figure lis a side elevation of a single-truck car equipped with a brake of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of a brake of my invention, partly in section, showing such parts of a car as will illustrate the application of my improved brake thereto, the brake being released or in inoperativeposition. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the brake in depressed or operative position. Fig. 4 is an end view of my improved brake shown as applied to a car. Fig. 5is aplan section on the line 5 5 of Fig. d, and Fig-6 is an enlarged perspective view of members of the brushcarrying head or frame.

Referringvnow to the drawings, A designates a car-body; A,t he longitudinal floor timbers or sills thereof; A2, the transverse floor-timbers; A3, the truck-frame; A, the truck-wheels, and A5 indicates motors adapted for propelling said car.

All of the foregoing parts are old and well known in the art and maybe of any usual or desired construction.

The operative parts of the brake are supported in a frame comprising right and left hand members B BQ rigidly secured to a transverse frame-timber A2 between the motors A5. Said lateral frame members are connected by `rods b and are reinforced by diagonal braces b; which connect said frame members adjacent to their lower ends with the floor memberA2. Saidsupporting-framealso comprises arms B2, adjacent to its lower end, the outer ends of which abut against the motors A5 and receive the end thrust due to applying the brake and transmit it to said motors and through the motors to the car-axles. In the preferable construction shown the outer ends of said arms B2 are connected by bars or rods b2, which are preferably formed integral therewith, so that the arms B2 and the bar b2 on each side of said frame will form an integral piece. Preferably, also, said bars b2 are provided with slots b3, through which project studs or pins b4 on the motor-casing. Said pins b4 strengthenv the arms B2 when under a strain, while the slots b2 provide for relative movement of the motors A5 and the springsupported car-body.

The brake-brush (designated as a whole by C) consists of;a plurality of spring-brushes C', rigidly secured at one end to a rigid back or support O2. As shown,the brushes C are substantially the same as those shown and described in my said prior patent, No. 569,150, each consisting of aplurality of thin strips or laminas of spring-steel or the like rigidly secured together. In the preferable construction shown,also, the brushes C are bolted to a iiange c on the back or support O2, a removable-plate c being secured to the opposite sides of said brushes. Secured to the ends of the back or support O2, being preferably formed integral therewith, are circular heads or disks C3,the perimeters of said disks and the outer surface of said back or supportform ing a skeleton drum or cylinder. Preferably, also, the brushes O extend diametrically of said cylinder, and their free ends project a short distance beyond or outside of the heads ordisks (I3- say one andone-half iuches'(1-}".) As practically all of the wear due to applying the brake is on the shoes c2, it is obvious that by renewing said shoes as they become worn beyond their practical utility the life of said disks may be extended almost indefinitely.

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Preferably, also, removable shoes c2 are secured to the disks or heads C3, the o uter surfaces of which coincide with the surfaces of said disks and which extend circumferentially of said disks on both sides of the free ends of the brushes C'.

The brake-brush C is revolubly mounted in a suitable frame,so as to be bodily movable toward and from the road-bed in order to provide for lowering said brake-brush into contact with the road-bed and to raise it above and free from the same.

In the preferable construction shown the brake-brush C is mounted in said frame by means of trunnions c2 on the heads or disks C3, which engage suitable bearings in said frame, said trunnions being located eccentrically of said heads or drums on a diametrical line, which coincides; practically, with the center line transversely of the brushes C' when in normal or nnflexed position, being offset toward the attached ends of said brushes. In the preferable construction shown, also, the surface of the brake-brnsh C is grooved or corrugated transversely, thus forming a series of teeth or projections c4, which will engage the road-bed or pavement more firmly when depressed into contact therewith than though said surface were smooth,preventin g slipping or sliding of said brake-brush on the road-bed or pavement, particularly when covered with operation of the brake under all conditions.

Rotation ofthe brake-brush C in either direction is limited by suitable stops to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the brushes C' are in full engagement'with the road-bed or pavement. As shown, said stops consist of lugs or projections c5 on the heads or disks C3, which are adapted to be brought into contact with dogs c5, pivoted in recesses c?, formed in the frame in which said brake-brush is mounted,the sides of said recesses forming stops adapted to limit the pivotal movement of said dogs, the relation being suchthat said brakebrush will be stopped in the position shown in said Fig. 3, as desired.

Owing to the greater weight of the brakebrnsh C on the side of the back or support C2, said brake-brush when released will normally hang in the position shown in Fig. 2, thus insuring desired engagement of the brake-brush with the road-bed or pavement when said brake is applied.

Springs cs, opposite ends of which are attached to the ends of the dogs c6 and to a rigid portion of the brake-frame, operate to maintain said dogs normally in a central position between the sides of the recesses c7, and when the brake -is released by exerting a pull on the lugs or projections c5 on the disks C3 will obviously give the brake-brush an impulse in the direction of its normal position.

-The frame in which the brake-brush C is revolubly mounted consists of a transverse member D, at the ends of which are formed arms D', which are tted to and longitudinally movable in guides or ways d, formed in the rigidly-supported brake-frame members B B', so as to be movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement. To provide for assembling the brake, said frame is made in two sections, each comprising an arm D' and a transverse member d', Fig. 6, said transverse members d being adapted to be bolted together in overlaid position to form the member D. Said transverse member D also preferably comprises flanges d2, which materially strengthen and stiften said frame.

Movement toward and from the pavement is adapted to be imparted to the brake-brush C by suitable means, which, as shown, consist of a revoluble screw E, the lower end of which is threaded to a nut E', secured to the member D of the brush-carrying frame and preferably having its upper end threaded to a nut E2, secured to the transverse frametimber A2. The nuts E' E2 and the threads on opposite ends of the screw E, which engage the same, are preferably of diiferent lead, thus rendering the operation of said brake very quick. In the preferable construction shown also the nuts E' E2 are pivotally connected to the timber A2 and to the frame D, so that lsaid frame and the brake-brush C will be pivotally movable about a longitudinal axis, thus allowing the brake-brush C to adapt itself to a transversely inclined or sloping road-bed or pavement. In the preferable construction shown lugs e e are formed on the nuts E' E2, respectively, of which the lugs e engage openings e2, formed in the lianges d2 ofthe frame D, and the lugs e' engage suitable bearings formed in a head or strap E3, secured to the transverse frame-timber A2.

As shown, the arms D', in which the brakebrush C is mounted, are wider than the guide slots or grooves d in the rigid frame members B B', and to provide for desired pivotal movement of said frame in the manner described it is cut away or grooved at the lateral edges of the arms D', as shown at c3. Provision is IOO IIO

thus made for pivotal movement of said brakescrew E is shown, described, and claimed in an application for United States Letters Patent filed by me in the United States Patent Office on the 2d day of July, 190]., numbered serially 66,845, and is therefore not claimed herein.

In the preferable construction shown counterbalauce-springs E5 connect the frame D with the frame-timber A2. Said springs E5 are sufficiently strong to about support the weight of said frame D and the parts carried thereby. They will thus operate to equalize the duty imposed on the screw E in raising and lowering said frame D in an obvious manner.

The operation of my improved brake is as follows: The brake-brush C being in its normal released position, (shown in Fig. 2,) the brake is applied by turning the screw E by means of the cable e5, so as to depress the frame D to bring the brake-brush C into contact with the pavement or road-bed, the points of contact being at the circumference of said brake-brush the shortest radial distance from the trunnions c3. Movement of the car relatively to the road-bed or pavement will operate to rotate said brake-brush into the position shown in Fig. 3, the point of contact of the brake-brush with the road-bed or pavement in this position being the greatest radial distance from said trunnions c3. Rotation of said brake-brush in this manner will operate to exert a strong upward thrust on the carbody, so that practically the whole weight of said car will be supported upon said brakebrush effecting a strong` frictional engagement of the brushes C with said road-bed or pavement, which will operate to stop the car in a very short distance. The pressure on said brushes C' is limited by means of the heads or disks G3, which thus supplement the braking action of said brushes and by limiting the pressure thereon prevent the same from being broken or permanently set by being iieXed beyond their limit. The end thrust due to setting the brake is transmitted by the arms B2 to the motors A, thus relieving the brake-frame from all but the upthrust, which it is strongest to resist.

It is obvious that the greatest wear on the brake-brush C will be on the shoes c2, which being removable may be renewed and replaced when worn out, thus increasing the life of said disks C3 almost indefinitely.

When it is desired to release the brake, the cable e5 is pulled so as to rotate the screw E in the direction to raise the frame D and brake-brush C. As soon as the brushes C' are raised clear of the road-bed or pavement the springs as, acting on the stop-dogs c6, give the brake-brush C an impulse toward its normal position, which it ultimately assumes.

Vhile I have herein shown my improved brake as applied to a single-truck car, it may equally well be applied to a double-truck car, and my invention contemplates this applicat-ion.

I claiml. In a vehicle-brake ot' the type described, the combination with abrake-brush, of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, a rigid frame, guides or ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement, means toimpart m ovement to said brush-carrying head or frame toward and from the road-bed or pavement and stops to limit the rotation of said brake-` brush, substantially as described.

2. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush, of a head or frame inwhich said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops thereon to limit the rotation of said brake-brush, a rigid frame secured to and depending from the car-body, rigid supports against which the lower end of said frame abuts adapted to receive the end thrust due to the application ot' the brake, guides or ways in said rigid frame to which the brush-carrying frame is tted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush-carrying head toward and from the pavement, substantially as described.

8. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination of a brake-brush, a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops to limit the rotation of said brake-brush, a frame rigidly supported beneath the car-body, guides or ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the roadbed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush-carrying head toward and from the road-bed, said means comprising a screw revolubly connected to said brush-carrying head and to the car-body, the connecy IOO thrust due to the application of the brake,

guides or ways in said rigid frame to which the brush-carrying head or frame is fitted and is movable toward and from the roadbed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush-carrying head toward and from the road-bed or pavement, said means comprising a screw revolubly connected to said brush-carrying head or frame and to the car-body, the connection to one thereof comprising a nut secured thereto to which said screw is threaded, and means to rotate said screw, substantially as described.

5. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops to limit the rotation of said brake-brush, a rigid frame, guides or ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to' impart movement to said brush-carrying head toward and from the road bed or pavement, said mcans comprising nuts of different lead secured to said brush-carrying headl and to the car-body, a screw the opposite ends of which vare threaded to said nuts and means to rotate and depending from the car-body, rigid supports against which the lower end of said rigid frame abuts adapted to receive the end thrust due to applying the brake, guides or ways in said rigid frame to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush-carrying head or frame toward and from the road-bed or pavement, said means comprising nuts of different lead secured to said brush-carrying head and to the car-body, a screw the opposite ends of which are threaded to said nuts and means to rotate said screw, substantially as described.

7. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops to limit the rotation of said lbrake-brush, a rigid frame, guides or ways therein to which said brush-carrying head or frame is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush-carrying head toward and from the road-bed or pavement, said means comprising a screw revolubly connected to said brush-carrying head or frame and to the car-body, the connection to one thereof comprising a nut pivoted thereto, and means to rotate said screw, substantially as described.

8. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush, of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops to lim it the rotation of said brake-brush, a rigid frame, guides or ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush-carryin g head toward and from the road bed or pavement, said means comprising nuts of different lead pivotally connected to said brush-carrying head and to the car-body, a screw the opposite ends of which are threaded to said nuts and means to rotate said screw,substantiallyas described.

9. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops which limit the rotation of said brake-brush, a rigid frame secured to and depending from the car-body, rigid supports against which the lower end of said rigid frame abuts adapted to receive the end thrust due to applying the brake, guides or ways in said rigid frame to which said brushcarrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road -bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said Vbrush'- carrying head toward and from the road-bed or pavement, said means comprising nuts of different lead pivoted to the brush-carrying head and to the car-body, a screw the opposite ends of which are threaded to said nuts and means to rotate said screw, substantially as described.

l0. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops to limit the rotation of said brake-brush, a rigid frame, guides or ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement, means to impart movement to said brush-carrying head toward and from said pavement, said means comprising a screw revolubly connected to said brush-carrying head and to the car-body, the connection to one thereof comprising a nut pivoted thereto to which said screw is threaded and means to rotate said screw and stops adapted to limit the pivotal movement ot' said brush-carrying head or frame, substantially as described.

11. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, stops which limit the rotation of said brake-brush, a rigid frame secured to and depending from the car-body, rigid supports against which the lower end of said rigid frame abuts adapted to receive the end thrust due to applying the brake, guides or ways in said rigid frame to which said brush-carrying head or frame is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement, rigid surfaces on said brush-carrying head or frame which are opposite rigid surfaces on said rigid frame and diverge gradually therefrom and means to impart movement to said brushcarrying head toward and from the road-bed or pavement, said means comprising nuts of different lead pivoted to the brush-carrying head and to the car-body, a screw the opposite ends of which are threaded to said nuts and means to rotate said screw, substantially as described.

12. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush, of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, a rigid frame, guides or ways` IOO IIO

against which the lower end of said rigid frame abuts adapted to receive the end thrust due to applying the brake, guides or Ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement, means to impart movement to said brush-carryin g head toward and from the road-bed or pavement and counterbalancesprings which connect said brushcarrying head With the car-body, substantially as described.

14. In a vehicle-brake ofthe type described, the combination With a brake-brush, of a head or frame in which said brake-brush is revolubly mounted, said head or frame consisting of right and left hand sections comprising overlying members rigidly secured together, a rigid frame, guides or ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush -carrying head toward and from the road-bed or pavement, substantially as described.

15. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a brake-brush comprising a back or support, heads or disks and trunnions on said heads or disks, all formed integral with each other, of a head or frame to suitable bearings in which the trunnions on said brake-brush are fitted, said head or frame consisting of right and left hand sections comprising overlying members rigidly secured together, a rigid frame, guides or Ways therein to which said brush-carrying head is fitted and is movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said brush-carrying head toward and from the road-bed or pavement, substantially as described.

16. A brake-brush for a brake of the type described, comprising a back or support to which the brushes are secured, disks secured to the ends thereof and trunnions on said disks located eccentrically thereof on the side of said brush back or support, substantially as described.

17. A brake-brush for a brake of the type described comprising a back or support, a flange thereon to which the brushes are attached, heads or disks secured to the ends of said brush back or support and trunnions on said heads or disks located eccentrically thereof on the side of said brush back or support, substantially as described.

18. A brake-brush for a brake of the type described, comprising a back or support to which the brushes are secured, heads or disks secured to the ends thereof and trunnions on said heads or disks located eccentrically thereof on the side of said brush back or support, the outer curved surfaces of said brush back or support and of said heads or disks being grooved or corrugated forming teeth therein, substantially as described.

19. A brake-brush for a brake of the type described, comprising a back or support, heads or disks secured to the ends thereof and shoes removably secured in said heads or disks which extend on both sides of the free ends of the brush-teeth When in normal unfleXed position, substantially as described.

20. A brake-brush for a brake of the type described, comprising a support to which the brushes are secured and rigid cam-surfaces adapted to rotate said brake-brush in the manner described, said cam-surfaces being provided with teeth or projections, substantially as described.

2l. A brake-brush for a brake of the type described, comprising a back or support to which the brushes are secured, heads or disks secured to the ends thereof, trunnions on said heads or disks located eccentrically thereof on the side of said back or support and removable shoes secured in the edges of said heads or disks which extend on both sides of the free ends of the brushes When in normal unflexed position, substantially as described.

22. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with aframe supported upon the vehicle so as to be movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said frame toward and from the road-bed or pavement,a brake-brush revolubly mounted in said frame and stops adapted to limit the rotation of said brakebrush, of a spring or springs applied to said brake-brush `and adapted to give it an impulse toward its normal position when said brake is released, substantially as described.

23. In a vehicle-brake of the type described, the combination with a frame supported upon the vehicle so as to be movable toward and from the road-bed or pavement and means to impart movement to said frame toward and from said road-bed or pavement and a brakebrush revolubly mounted in said frame, of stops adapted to limit the rotation of said brake-brush, said stops comprising a rigid projection or projections on said brake-brush and a dog or dogs pivoted upon said frame in the path of travel of' said projection or projections, stops on said frame which limit the pivotal movement of said dog or dogs and springs applied to said dog or dogs adapted to maintain them normally in central position, substantially as described.

In` testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two subscribing` Witnesses, this 12th day of August, A. D. 1901.

CHARLES B. FAIRCHILD.

Vitnesses:

W. H. MEADER, C. W. WALDnoN.

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